First Turn

The Ultimate Werewolf master and architect of Castles and Palace of Mad King Ludwig heads down memory lane to his debut game: 2006’s road-building, earthquake-battling Seismic

TED ALSPACH

Interview by Dan Jolin

BACKGROUND

“I was the group product manager for Adobe Illustrator and their creative suite for about eight years, but I was always doing game design. While growing up in Pennsylvania, me and a friend made a 3D version of Tactics 2, an old Avalon Hill wargame – we papier-mâché’d a giant map. And when I did D&D in high school, I loved being the DM. Designing maps and working on campaigns was always the thing that drove me to play more. I’m pretty sure my first couple of proper games were designed while I was still at Adobe daydreaming when I shoulda been doing something else. So, thanks Adobe for footing the bill for some of that!”

About Tabletop Gaming

It’s time to play the game of thrones in the May issue of Tabletop Gaming magazine, as we venture into Westeros with A Song of Ice and Fire: Tabletop Miniatures Game. Get an exclusive look at the sprawling battle game and hear from its co-creator about tackling George R.R. Martin's epic series of fantasy novels and making it a wargame like no other in our massive lead interview.
Moving from fantasy to sci-fi, we blast off with a first look at Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy, the much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed 2011 space strategy hit. Creator Touko Tahkokallio tells us about making the massive game even bigger and reveals what’s in store for both old fans and newcomers alike.
Whether you’re headed to Birmingham’s NEC this June for the 2018 UK Games Expo or not, you won’t want to miss our round-up of must-see games at the show – including a surprise appearance from Noggin the Nog!
After reinventing ‘80s sci-fi, the creators of RPG phenomenon Tales from the Loop return with their nostalgic take on classic fantasy roleplaying. We venture into Forbidden Lands to find out how the game combines the best of the past with modern sensibilities for a truly stunning experience.
There’s plenty more to enjoy, including a look at the making of rom-com board game Fog of Love, a preview of competitive legacy game The Rise of Queensdale and a chat with quirky British party game studio Big Potato.
We also have the first part of our Star Wars: Legion painting guide, offering essential tips on bringing your army of stormtroopers, speeder bikes and AT-STs to life.
All this, plus our thoughts on the biggest games you should be adding to your collection, with reviews of The City of Kings, Munchkin Collectible Card Game, Empires of the Void II, Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion, You’ve Got Crabs, Dark Souls: The Card Game, Dungeon Alliance, Sonar and more.
It really is the best way to get your summer started early!